Debris is scattered along the roadside on U.S. 96 in Beaumont. The city is considering an expenditure of about $250,000 to clean up the litter that lines its major arteries, which falls under the purview of TxDOT. The city already steps in to help with trash removal as the state's clean-up schedule has fallen short of keeping up with the needed maintenance. Photo taken Monday, February 5, 2018 Kim Brent/The Enterprise less

Debris is scattered along the roadside on U.S. 96 in Beaumont. The city is considering an expenditure of about $250,000 to clean up the litter that lines its major arteries, which falls under the purview of ... more

Photo: Kim Brent

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Workers with the City of Beaumont pick up and bag trash near the College Street exit on I-10. Debris is scattered on roadsides of the major arteries throughout Beaumont. The city is considering an expenditure of about $250,000 towards clean up, which falls under the purview of TxDOT. The city already steps in to help with trash removal as the state's clean-up schedule has fallen short of keeping up with the needed maintenance. Photo taken Monday, February 5, 2018 Kim Brent/The Enterprise less

Workers with the City of Beaumont pick up and bag trash near the College Street exit on I-10. Debris is scattered on roadsides of the major arteries throughout Beaumont. The city is considering an expenditure ... more

Photo: Kim Brent

Image 3 of 37

Debris is scattered along the roadside on westbound I-10 in Beaumont. The city is considering an expenditure of about $250,000 to clean up the litter that lines its major arteries, which falls under the purview of TxDOT. The city already steps in to help with trash removal as the state's clean-up schedule has fallen short of keeping up with the needed maintenance. Photo taken Monday, February 5, 2018 Kim Brent/The Enterprise less

Debris is scattered along the roadside on westbound I-10 in Beaumont. The city is considering an expenditure of about $250,000 to clean up the litter that lines its major arteries, which falls under the purview ... more

Photo: Kim Brent

Image 4 of 37

Debris is scattered along the roadside on U.S. 96 in Beaumont. The city is considering an expenditure of about $250,000 to clean up the litter that lines its major arteries, which falls under the purview of TxDOT. The city already steps in to help with trash removal as the state's clean-up schedule has fallen short of keeping up with the needed maintenance. Photo taken Monday, February 5, 2018 Kim Brent/The Enterprise less

Debris is scattered along the roadside on U.S. 96 in Beaumont. The city is considering an expenditure of about $250,000 to clean up the litter that lines its major arteries, which falls under the purview of ... more

Photo: Kim Brent

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Workers with the City of Beaumont pick up and bag trash near the College Street exit on I-10. Debris is scattered on roadsides of the major arteries throughout Beaumont. The city is considering an expenditure of about $250,000 towards clean up, which falls under the purview of TxDOT. The city already steps in to help with trash removal as the state's clean-up schedule has fallen short of keeping up with the needed maintenance. Photo taken Monday, February 5, 2018 Kim Brent/The Enterprise less

Workers with the City of Beaumont pick up and bag trash near the College Street exit on I-10. Debris is scattered on roadsides of the major arteries throughout Beaumont. The city is considering an expenditure ... more

Photo: Kim Brent

Image 7 of 37

Workers with the City of Beaumont pick up and bag trash near the College Street exit on I-10. Debris is scattered on roadsides of the major arteries throughout Beaumont. The city is considering an expenditure of about $250,000 towards clean up, which falls under the purview of TxDOT. The city already steps in to help with trash removal as the state's clean-up schedule has fallen short of keeping up with the needed maintenance. Photo taken Monday, February 5, 2018 Kim Brent/The Enterprise less

Workers with the City of Beaumont pick up and bag trash near the College Street exit on I-10. Debris is scattered on roadsides of the major arteries throughout Beaumont. The city is considering an expenditure ... more

Photo: Kim Brent

Image 8 of 37

Debris is scattered along the roadside on U.S. 96 in Beaumont. The city is considering an expenditure of about $250,000 to clean up the litter that lines its major arteries, which falls under the purview of TxDOT. The city already steps in to help with trash removal as the state's clean-up schedule has fallen short of keeping up with the needed maintenance. Photo taken Monday, February 5, 2018 Kim Brent/The Enterprise less

Debris is scattered along the roadside on U.S. 96 in Beaumont. The city is considering an expenditure of about $250,000 to clean up the litter that lines its major arteries, which falls under the purview of ... more

Photo: Kim Brent

Image 9 of 37

Debris is scattered along the roadside on U.S. 96 in Beaumont. The city is considering an expenditure of about $250,000 to clean up the litter that lines its major arteries, which falls under the purview of TxDOT. The city already steps in to help with trash removal as the state's clean-up schedule has fallen short of keeping up with the needed maintenance. Photo taken Monday, February 5, 2018 Kim Brent/The Enterprise less

Debris is scattered along the roadside on U.S. 96 in Beaumont. The city is considering an expenditure of about $250,000 to clean up the litter that lines its major arteries, which falls under the purview of ... more

Photo: Kim Brent

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Debris is scattered along the roadside on U.S. 96 in Beaumont. The city is considering an expenditure of about $250,000 to clean up the litter that lines its major arteries, which falls under the purview of TxDOT. The city already steps in to help with trash removal as the state's clean-up schedule has fallen short of keeping up with the needed maintenance. Photo taken Monday, February 5, 2018 Kim Brent/The Enterprise less

Debris is scattered along the roadside on U.S. 96 in Beaumont. The city is considering an expenditure of about $250,000 to clean up the litter that lines its major arteries, which falls under the purview of ... more

Photo: Kim Brent

Image 12 of 37

Debris is scattered along the roadside on westbound I-10 in Beaumont. The city is considering an expenditure of about $250,000 to clean up the litter that lines its major arteries, which falls under the purview of TxDOT. The city already steps in to help with trash removal as the state's clean-up schedule has fallen short of keeping up with the needed maintenance. Photo taken Monday, February 5, 2018 Kim Brent/The Enterprise less

Debris is scattered along the roadside on westbound I-10 in Beaumont. The city is considering an expenditure of about $250,000 to clean up the litter that lines its major arteries, which falls under the purview ... more

Photo: Kim Brent

Image 13 of 37

Workers with the City of Beaumont pick up and bag trash near the College Street exit on I-10. Debris is scattered on roadsides of the major arteries throughout Beaumont. The city is considering an expenditure of about $250,000 towards clean up, which falls under the purview of TxDOT. The city already steps in to help with trash removal as the state's clean-up schedule has fallen short of keeping up with the needed maintenance. Photo taken Monday, February 5, 2018 Kim Brent/The Enterprise less

Workers with the City of Beaumont pick up and bag trash near the College Street exit on I-10. Debris is scattered on roadsides of the major arteries throughout Beaumont. The city is considering an expenditure ... more

Photo: Kim Brent

Image 14 of 37

Workers with the City of Beaumont pick up and bag trash near the College Street exit on I-10. Debris is scattered on roadsides of the major arteries throughout Beaumont. The city is considering an expenditure of about $250,000 towards clean up, which falls under the purview of TxDOT. The city already steps in to help with trash removal as the state's clean-up schedule has fallen short of keeping up with the needed maintenance. Photo taken Monday, February 5, 2018 Kim Brent/The Enterprise less

Workers with the City of Beaumont pick up and bag trash near the College Street exit on I-10. Debris is scattered on roadsides of the major arteries throughout Beaumont. The city is considering an expenditure ... more

Photo: Kim Brent

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Workers with the City of Beaumont pick up and bag trash near the College Street exit on I-10. Debris is scattered on roadsides of the major arteries throughout Beaumont. The city is considering an expenditure of about $250,000 towards clean up, which falls under the purview of TxDOT. The city already steps in to help with trash removal as the state's clean-up schedule has fallen short of keeping up with the needed maintenance. Photo taken Monday, February 5, 2018 Kim Brent/The Enterprise less

Workers with the City of Beaumont pick up and bag trash near the College Street exit on I-10. Debris is scattered on roadsides of the major arteries throughout Beaumont. The city is considering an expenditure ... more

Photo: Kim Brent

Image 17 of 37

Workers with the City of Beaumont pick up and bag trash near the College Street exit on I-10. Debris is scattered on roadsides of the major arteries throughout Beaumont. The city is considering an expenditure of about $250,000 towards clean up, which falls under the purview of TxDOT. The city already steps in to help with trash removal as the state's clean-up schedule has fallen short of keeping up with the needed maintenance. Photo taken Monday, February 5, 2018 Kim Brent/The Enterprise less

Workers with the City of Beaumont pick up and bag trash near the College Street exit on I-10. Debris is scattered on roadsides of the major arteries throughout Beaumont. The city is considering an expenditure ... more

Photo: Kim Brent

Image 18 of 37

Workers with the City of Beaumont pick up and bag trash near the College Street exit on I-10. Debris is scattered on roadsides of the major arteries throughout Beaumont. The city is considering an expenditure of about $250,000 towards clean up, which falls under the purview of TxDOT. The city already steps in to help with trash removal as the state's clean-up schedule has fallen short of keeping up with the needed maintenance. Photo taken Monday, February 5, 2018 Kim Brent/The Enterprise less

Workers with the City of Beaumont pick up and bag trash near the College Street exit on I-10. Debris is scattered on roadsides of the major arteries throughout Beaumont. The city is considering an expenditure ... more

Photo: Kim Brent

Image 19 of 37

Debris is scattered beneath the I-10 overpass east of Seventh St. in Beaumont. The city is considering an expenditure of about $250,000 to clean up the litter that lines its major arteries, which falls under the purview of TxDOT. The city already steps in to help with trash removal as the state's clean-up schedule has fallen short of keeping up with the needed maintenance. Photo taken Monday, February 5, 2018 Kim Brent/The Enterprise less

Debris is scattered beneath the I-10 overpass east of Seventh St. in Beaumont. The city is considering an expenditure of about $250,000 to clean up the litter that lines its major arteries, which falls under ... more

Photo: Kim Brent

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Debris is scattered along the roadside on U.S. 96 in Beaumont. The city is considering an expenditure of about $250,000 to clean up the litter that lines its major arteries, which falls under the purview of TxDOT. The city already steps in to help with trash removal as the state's clean-up schedule has fallen short of keeping up with the needed maintenance. Photo taken Monday, February 5, 2018 Kim Brent/The Enterprise less

Debris is scattered along the roadside on U.S. 96 in Beaumont. The city is considering an expenditure of about $250,000 to clean up the litter that lines its major arteries, which falls under the purview of ... more

Photo: Kim Brent

Image 22 of 37

Debris is scattered along the roadside on U.S. 96 in Beaumont. The city is considering an expenditure of about $250,000 to clean up the litter that lines its major arteries, which falls under the purview of TxDOT. The city already steps in to help with trash removal as the state's clean-up schedule has fallen short of keeping up with the needed maintenance. Photo taken Monday, February 5, 2018 Kim Brent/The Enterprise less

Debris is scattered along the roadside on U.S. 96 in Beaumont. The city is considering an expenditure of about $250,000 to clean up the litter that lines its major arteries, which falls under the purview of ... more

Photo: Kim Brent

Image 23 of 37

Debris is scattered along the roadside on I-10 in Beaumont. The city is considering an expenditure of about $250,000 to clean up the litter that lines its major arteries, which falls under the purview of TxDOT. The city already steps in to help with trash removal as the state's clean-up schedule has fallen short of keeping up with the needed maintenance. Photo taken Monday, February 5, 2018 Kim Brent/The Enterprise less

Debris is scattered along the roadside on I-10 in Beaumont. The city is considering an expenditure of about $250,000 to clean up the litter that lines its major arteries, which falls under the purview of TxDOT. ... more

Photo: Kim Brent

Image 24 of 37

Debris is scattered along the roadside on I-10 in Beaumont. The city is considering an expenditure of about $250,000 to clean up the litter that lines its major arteries, which falls under the purview of TxDOT. The city already steps in to help with trash removal as the state's clean-up schedule has fallen short of keeping up with the needed maintenance. Photo taken Monday, February 5, 2018 Kim Brent/The Enterprise less

Debris is scattered along the roadside on I-10 in Beaumont. The city is considering an expenditure of about $250,000 to clean up the litter that lines its major arteries, which falls under the purview of TxDOT. ... more

Photo: Kim Brent

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Debris is scattered beneath the I-10 overpass east of Seventh St. in Beaumont. The city is considering an expenditure of about $250,000 to clean up the litter that lines its major arteries, which falls under the purview of TxDOT. The city already steps in to help with trash removal as the state's clean-up schedule has fallen short of keeping up with the needed maintenance. Photo taken Monday, February 5, 2018 Kim Brent/The Enterprise less

Debris is scattered beneath the I-10 overpass east of Seventh St. in Beaumont. The city is considering an expenditure of about $250,000 to clean up the litter that lines its major arteries, which falls under ... more

Photo: Kim Brent

Image 27 of 37

Debris is scattered along the roadside on I-10 in Beaumont. The city is considering an expenditure of about $250,000 to clean up the litter that lines its major arteries, which falls under the purview of TxDOT. The city already steps in to help with trash removal as the state's clean-up schedule has fallen short of keeping up with the needed maintenance. Photo taken Monday, February 5, 2018 Kim Brent/The Enterprise less

Debris is scattered along the roadside on I-10 in Beaumont. The city is considering an expenditure of about $250,000 to clean up the litter that lines its major arteries, which falls under the purview of TxDOT. ... more

Photo: Kim Brent

Image 28 of 37

Debris is scattered along the roadside on I-10 in Beaumont. The city is considering an expenditure of about $250,000 to clean up the litter that lines its major arteries, which falls under the purview of TxDOT. The city already steps in to help with trash removal as the state's clean-up schedule has fallen short of keeping up with the needed maintenance. Photo taken Monday, February 5, 2018 Kim Brent/The Enterprise less

Debris is scattered along the roadside on I-10 in Beaumont. The city is considering an expenditure of about $250,000 to clean up the litter that lines its major arteries, which falls under the purview of TxDOT. ... more

Photo: Kim Brent

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Workers with the City of Beaumont pick up and bag trash near the College Street exit on I-10. Debris is scattered on roadsides of the major arteries throughout Beaumont. The city is considering an expenditure of about $250,000 towards clean up, which falls under the purview of TxDOT. The city already steps in to help with trash removal as the state's clean-up schedule has fallen short of keeping up with the needed maintenance. Photo taken Monday, February 5, 2018 Kim Brent/The Enterprise less

Workers with the City of Beaumont pick up and bag trash near the College Street exit on I-10. Debris is scattered on roadsides of the major arteries throughout Beaumont. The city is considering an expenditure ... more

Photo: Kim Brent

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Debris is scattered along the roadside on I-10 in Beaumont. The city is considering an expenditure of about $250,000 to clean up the litter that lines its major arteries, which falls under the purview of TxDOT. The city already steps in to help with trash removal as the state's clean-up schedule has fallen short of keeping up with the needed maintenance. Photo taken Monday, February 5, 2018 Kim Brent/The Enterprise less

Debris is scattered along the roadside on I-10 in Beaumont. The city is considering an expenditure of about $250,000 to clean up the litter that lines its major arteries, which falls under the purview of TxDOT. ... more

Photo: Kim Brent

Image 32 of 37

Workers with the City of Beaumont pick up and bag trash near the College Street exit on I-10. Debris is scattered on roadsides of the major arteries throughout Beaumont. The city is considering an expenditure of about $250,000 towards clean up, which falls under the purview of TxDOT. The city already steps in to help with trash removal as the state's clean-up schedule has fallen short of keeping up with the needed maintenance. Photo taken Monday, February 5, 2018 Kim Brent/The Enterprise less

Workers with the City of Beaumont pick up and bag trash near the College Street exit on I-10. Debris is scattered on roadsides of the major arteries throughout Beaumont. The city is considering an expenditure ... more

Photo: Kim Brent

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Debris is scattered along the access road on I-10 in Beaumont. The city is considering an expenditure of about $250,000 to clean up the litter that lines its major arteries, which falls under the purview of TxDOT. The city already steps in to help with trash removal as the state's clean-up schedule has fallen short of keeping up with the needed maintenance. Photo taken Monday, February 5, 2018 Kim Brent/The Enterprise less

Debris is scattered along the access road on I-10 in Beaumont. The city is considering an expenditure of about $250,000 to clean up the litter that lines its major arteries, which falls under the purview of ... more

Photo: Kim Brent

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Debris is scattered along the roadside near the Smith Road exit on I-10. The city is considering an expenditure of about $250,000 to clean up the litter that lines its major arteries, which falls under the purview of TxDOT. The city already steps in to help with trash removal as the state's clean-up schedule has fallen short of keeping up with the needed maintenance. Photo taken Monday, February 5, 2018 Kim Brent/The Enterprise less

Debris is scattered along the roadside near the Smith Road exit on I-10. The city is considering an expenditure of about $250,000 to clean up the litter that lines its major arteries, which falls under the ... more

Photo: Kim Brent

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Debris is scattered along the roadside near the Smith Road exit on I-10. The city is considering an expenditure of about $250,000 to clean up the litter that lines its major arteries, which falls under the purview of TxDOT. The city already steps in to help with trash removal as the state's clean-up schedule has fallen short of keeping up with the needed maintenance. Photo taken Monday, February 5, 2018 Kim Brent/The Enterprise less

Debris is scattered along the roadside near the Smith Road exit on I-10. The city is considering an expenditure of about $250,000 to clean up the litter that lines its major arteries, which falls under the ... more

Photo: Kim Brent

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Beaumont weighs spending $250K annually to tackle litter

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In an attempt to clean up all the plastic bottles, Styrofoam cups, tires and mattresses littering Beaumont's highways and nearly 4,000 empty lots, city officials are considering taking over their cleanup at a cost of up to $250,000 a year.

At a work session last week, city council members said Beaumont's trash problem along Interstate 10 and U.S. 69 likely keeps visitors from stopping here.

The Texas Department of Transportation is responsible for maintaining the grassy areas along the two highways but only mows the areas about three times each year, City Manager Kyle Hayes said.

At least once recently, the agency's crews did not pick up

the trash before mowing, leaving behind shredded garbage, Hayes said. That "reflects poorly on the city," he said.

"I think the time has come that we, the City of Beaumont, take that responsibility," he said.

Hayes proposed spending about $215,000 to purchase a truck, mowers and tractors, and about $250,000 a year on salaries and maintenance to take on the job.

He suggested doubling the litter control fee charged on residents' water bills to cover the costs. The current fee, 25 cents per month for apartments and 50 cents per month for homes, was set in 1985, he said.

Council members Get Williams-Wright and Mike Getz both questioned charging residents to do work that they said should be done by the state.

"I don't like raising a tax because TxDOT won't do their jobs," Getz said.

"I want our city clean, but I think it's so unfair," Williams-Wright said. "This is TxDOT's territory and they have responsibility to keep up our highways."

Hayes said the state told the city it spends about $50,000 annually to mow along the highways inside Beaumont's city limits. He said the agency has indicated that it is willing to consider paying that amount to the city to cover some of the cost of taking over the clean up efforts, but no agreement has been reached.

Currently, the city pays eight to 10 employees overtime to pick up garbage along Interstate 10 from the Neches River Bridge to Washington Boulevard, Hayes said.

He said the workers are needed because the state's crews weren't coming in frequently enough to stay on top of the trash problem.

While discussing the litter control fee, the council debated rasing the apartment fee of 25 cents to match the homeowners' fee of 50 cents. That item was left for later discussion.

Council members also said they'll consider changing city ordinances to enforce harsher penalties for owning trash-filled vacant lots.

Vacant lots, in both residential and business areas, make up about 20 percent of all properties in Beaumont, according to Planning & Community Development Director Chris Boone.

That number is growing, especially in some areas of the city where about one new building is put up for every 100 taken down, he said.

The northeastern part of the city has the most empty lots with code enforcement violations, he said.

Of the 6,500 to 7,500 cases Beaumont's Code Enforcement Division handles each year, more than half are weed violations, mostly on vacant lots that the city spends money mowing and maintaining, Boone said. Almost 2,000 are litter and nuisance issues, and just under 1,300 are junk cars and unsafe buildings, he said.

"We need some sharper tools" to enforce rules, he said, suggesting increasing zero tolerance policies, adding more punitive fines and working with local judges to shift toward harsher treatment of repeat offenders, or owners with years of violations.

Boone also suggested requiring building owners to remove graffiti, rather than waiting until the city can "catch the Picasso in the act."

Ward 1 Council member Virginia Jordan said the city should consider working with organizations and businesses to sponsor trash pick-ups on areas along highways and in neighborhoods.

"I'd also personally like to see fines levied against apartment buildings that trash this city," she said. "It's bringing us down."

Eric Bender, owner of Bicycle Sports on Interstate 10, said businesses should be encouraged to adopt the stretches of highway in front of their property to keep the areas clean.